Speech inspires supporters to unite behind Obama

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — The people charged into the reception hall screaming "yes we can, yes we can!" They carried a life-size cardboard figure of Sen. Barack Obama with them.

Ashley Kelly

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — The people charged into the reception hall screaming "yes we can, yes we can!" They carried a life-size cardboard figure of Sen. Barack Obama with them.

Thursday night at the Quality Inn, nearly 100 people gathered to watch Obama close out the Democratic National Convention.

"His speech was brilliant," said Erica Callender of Rock Hill. "He covered every aspect of society. He sounded like my president. It felt like Martin Luther King all over again." Many supporters were with Obama from the beginning; others, like Marianna Nelson of Newburgh, supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton but came around for Obama at the convention.

"The biggest thing I liked was him saying this is not a red or blue country, it's the United States of America," she said. "I think it was a great speech. No question he's going to be our next president." The event was hosted by Hudson Valley Moving Forward and Frank Skartados, who is the Democratic Assembly candidate for the 100th District.

Some said the four-day convention in Denver united the party, while others said there was still work to be done.

"We need to get Obama in office by any means necessary," event organizer Shellye Schoonmaker told the crowded room. "We have to get the vote out." Legrete Ainsworth of Newburgh said Obama needs to toughen his image in order to fight off Republican attacks.

"It's like a mini-war," Ainsworth said. "When you're in a war you have to do some things you don't particularly like."

Vincent Cianni of Newburgh said the question of whether the Democratic Party is united has been skewed by the media.

"There's more of a sense of unity than the pundits would have us think," said Cianni, who said now is the time for America to improve its image. "We've lost our standing with the international community."

Anita Contreras of Newburgh noted the historic significance of an African-American getting this close to the presidency. She referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which he gave 45 years ago Thursday.